Lecture 3+4 - Adult Assessment

Question 1

Do we use standardized testing with AAC adults?

Answer 1

Use some standardized tests but not much - just for information gatheriing

Question 2

what are 2 differences b/w working with kids vs adults in AAC

Answer 2

• Paediatric clinics have more OT & SLPs on board
• Paediatric clients are acquiring language, whereas we are tapping into language adults already had before injury/illness

Question 3

Define opportunity barriers

Answer 3

external to client
• Communication partners(skill and knowledge): Who they talk to, where are they communicating, where is the breakdown
> Compare to peers

Question 4

Define access barriers and the 3 things that determine current communication

Answer 4

intrinsic to client
• environmental adaptations: move to front, turn off TV
• AAC systems/devices they are bringing with them
• Natural abilities: what can they do? how functional is communication?l i.e. how much do family/close friends understand you vs. strangers understand you

Question 5

What 8 domains need to be assessed to establish efficient AAC

Answer 5

1) seating and positioning
2) Motor Skills
3) Accessing
4) Sensory/perception
5) Cognition
6) Language (expressive/receptive)
7) Motor speech
8) literacy (reading and writing)

Question 6

What do we need to know in terms of linguistic/cognitive capabilities?

Answer 6

Questions re: >Memory,categorization/thinking, new learning,
observation of:
>Attention+concentration throughout assessment
> how they manage tasks, speed of processing

Question 7

What do we need to know in terms of language?

Answer 7

observations on how well they are expressively and what they’re understanding
Are they able to understand single word level or short phrase level

Question 8

What do we need to know in terms of motor speech?

Answer 8

functional & not functional (maybe functional with family but not with others), may drop with fatigue

Question 9

What do we need to know in terms of literacy?

Answer 9

some reading & spelling – very quick glance

 Need to probe whether or not they were functional writers before

Question 10

What do we need to know in terms of sensory and perception

Answer 10

Visual acuity
could be doing very poorly on literacy for some reason not related to language – maybe can’t see
• can they see standard font – due to language or due to vision? (check if large print is helping)
 ability to visually scan something, perceptual issues with ignoring one side of visual field, blind spots

Question 11

What do we need to know in terms of motor access and seating

Answer 11

• OT observes seating & figures out best mounting

how can they physically interact with AAC device

Question 12

Where do we typically start with an AAC assessment?

Answer 12

Develop a yes/no response because we have to establish consent

Question 13

Describe the 3 variables that affect the potential for a client to use the AAC provided

Answer 13

Operational requirements: Need to know how to work apps, must be able to reach screen to operate
Contraints: Funding, language (most AAC are made in english)
Capabilities: what the client is able to do: steady eye gaze, fine motor skills

Question 14

Often nurses will say “no tech in ICU” is a ________ when really it’s a _______

Answer 14

Policy , really a practice

Question 15

What are the 5 opportunity barriers that need to be assessed in order to create opportunity interventions?

Answer 15

1) Policy
2) Practice
3) facilitator/communication partner skill
4) facilitator/communication partner knowledge
5) Attitudes